Seriously, doesn't it drive everyone out there NUTS how long it takes utility companies to do things?
Now, in this case, we have to be fair. Why? Because this hole isn't the fault of our township. This hole is under the responsibility and purview of PECO Energy.
Click HERE to view one shot of the hole, and click here for another view.
In an event, this burns us up. We have been asking about this hole since February, when Chairman of the House Judiciary, Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner came to town. He noticed the hole that had been languishing in the sidewalk next to the now formerly targeted block in Ardmore. It was very embarrassing for our merchants and our community.
So we have written several times about this hole, and we can honestly say we know folks are READING the posts about the sidewalk holes.
Here's a recap:
Why is there STILL a huge hole in the sidewalk next to a pole in between the edge of where Fellini Cafe ends and Brownie's 23 East begins ????
The merchants didn't create the hole. It's highly unlikely a patron on their way to Brownie's created the hole.
So who or what created the hole that has been there for several MONTHS?????!!!!!!!
It has had various appearances with coverings of metal plates and /or (like at present) sheets of plywood? Isn't this hole a bit of a LIABILITY if someone (a) falls into the hole (b) trips on what is covering the hole or the bits of hole peeking out from where the covering has slipped?
OK there is an orange cone or two, but why is the hole there, and who is responsible for fixing it?
....It is no secret that utility companies can take forever and an eternity to do the most basic stuff ....why look at Montgomery Avenue in Ardmore...which is worse, Aqua's equipment, the unending replacement of water lines, or the darn gopher tunnels that kill the suspension on every vehicle that passes over it?
....Just exactly what do folks pay for around here precisely when it comes to the things that fall into that huge category of infrastructure?
Today, one of our members spoke to someone in our public works department. They have been calling and calling PECO to fix the problem.
Our intrepid SAC Member had a desire to kick it up a notch, so they gave a jingle to some state elected representatives, who agreed that a big hole like that is very dangerous, not just unsightly. Our SAC member also spoke with someone at PECO. Our SAC member reported that this man was very nice to speak with, but wondered if he completely understood the public's concerns over this hole.
So, in the essence of fairness, we're gonna make it simple:
The hole has been there since at least February, 2006 (if not earlier). The hole is on the SIDEWALK in between two very busy and popular establishments: Brownie's 23 East and Fellini Cafe, located on Lancaster Avenue in Ardmore. This is a well traveled block, with loads of daily foot traffic. If someone falls, or stumbles, or trips, this could result in serious injury. A lot of us have had to stumble to avoid it. This hole is negligence.
We appreciate that rainy, hot summers with lots of thunderstorms mean lots of work for utility companies like PECO. But face it, folks have been gretzing about this damn hole for MONTHS. The Philadelphia area pays among the highest utility rates in the nation, and for all that money that we put out as citizens, you would think customer service would be more efficient.
But it's not. So PECO, the hole has been open for 144 days that we have counted (but who's counting?). That is 144 days too long.
We are going to keep talking about the hole until that sidewalk is perfect again. And we encourage ANYONE with a gripe about a utility to come forward and share your story. That is the only way that anyone will get customer service that we ALL pay for.
what a total DISGRACE
You mean to tell me that this hole has been like this since the winter and possibly earlier? What a bunch of crap. Sheesh, and I thought I had issues with Inquirer subscriptions! Yikes.
Good for Philly Future for leaving this smack on the front page - hope you let it live here a while and embarass the sh*t out of PECO - here I thought they only did this cr*p within the city limts!
I called up one of my college buds who happen to live around there and asked if this was a real photo of a real hole- he told me it was, that he almost fell in it the other day when in Ardmore.
What is up with local governments? Don't they have any power to make utilities move at a reasonable clip?
I have a lot of friends all over who are whining about utility work being so darn slow and all they ever see are are the utility workers on BREAKS.
hmmm
I agree that things like this are a drag. probably the streets department is even worse, as it will dig things up and then leave huge holes without so much as a sawhorse for warning; sinkholes and potholes similarly seem to need a Councilman's intervention to get filled.
but, um, if I wrote a diary here for every open hole, dangling pole, lingering trench, or other utility or streets department oversight, you guys would have banned me for spamming a long time ago. I hope they fix it, but I also wish for you that this is the biggest problem that Ardmore has to face this year...
acm
Hole Watch, Day 145
one of our members received a phone call from someone at PECO for an "update", so we thought we'd share what we were told:
This Friday, July 14th (147 days but who is counting, right?)someone from PECO is supposed to go out with a contractor to look at what Mr. PECO referred to as a "sidewalk opening".(ayup and they will be sending their sidewalk engineer)
This is NOT to fix it, but to LOOK at it.
While we are appreciative of some attention to our hole from hell, ummmmm let us not consider it so long that we are forced to have a daily count of the open hole...but hey that is a GREAT idea - "HOLE WATCH"
C'mon PECO, git r' done....
Special note to HAE and ACM/redfox1: thanks for your kind words...as for what do we face next? visit our website and see what's up www.saveardmorecoalition.org - in addition, our Prez was on Michael Smerconish this morning ( he called in because IJ was on dishing eminent domain ) and did another interview to be aired soon...
you build a small
javascript counter... and we will put it on the home page.
why not?
how to question on day 146
how do we build a javascript counter?